Tumbler-switch



H. J. DEAN-OSGO OD.

TUMBLERSWITCH. APPLICATION FILED APR. 24. 1919.

Pamnted May 4, 1920.

HENRY JOSEPH DEAN-OSGOOD, OF LOUGHBOBOUGH, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR T0 HERBERTWATSON SULLIVAN,

OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

TUMBLER-SWI'ICH.

Application filed April 24,

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY JOSEPH DEAN- OscooD, a subject of the King ofEngland, residing at Loughborough, in the county of Leicester, England,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tumbler- Switches,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tumbler switches and an important object is toprovide a switch of this type which shall have a long quick breakcombined with a large area of contact with the switch contact-pieces.

Another object is to provide a tumbler switch wherein a switch-arm ismounted to move in a plane transverse to the plane of movement of thetumbler, and is operatively engaged by a leading edge thereof instead ofby its end as heretofore.

A further object is to provide that the switch-arm shall be locked inits on position by an arm provided on the tumbler.

A still further obj (act is to provide a quickbreak double-break switchof the tumbler type which is of simple construction, is inexpensive tomanufacture and comprises only few moving parts.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the construction,arrangement and combination of parts described hereinafter and pointedout in the claims.

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example in theaccompanying drawing, wherein v Figure 1 is an elevation of a doublebreak tumbler switch in its on position with a portion of an encirclingwall of its base removed to show its switch-arm locked against movementin this position,

Figs. 2 and 3 are plan views showing the switch in its on and offpositions, respectively, and,

Fig. 4; is a sectional elevation taken on the line 44 in Fig. 2 showingthe switch with its tumbler and switch-arm in a position midway betweenoff and on.

Like reference letters designate like parts in all the views.

Referring to the drawing, a tumbler A is mounted to rock on a bridge B,which is supported by projections C made integral with a support or baseC made of vulcanite or other convenient insulatin material having acircumferential wall (l Firmly attached to the tumbler on the under sideSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 4, 19 20.

1919. Serial No. 292,265.

thereof is a cranked actuating arm D, the leadingedge of the dependingportion D of which is arranged to coact with an inclined face E of aV-shaped recess or gap formed in a porcelain ring E. A recess or grooveE is cut in this face.

Fastened to the ring E by two screws E is a switch blade F havingprojecting ends F arranged to enga e fixed contact-pieces provided withthe usual screws Gr whichserveto clamp the connecting wires. Theswitch-arm of the switch is thus constituted by the ring E and theswitch-blade F which is arranged to make and break contact with thecontact-pieces G.

A pivot for the switch-arm is provided in the form of an internally andexternally threaded pillar H, having upper and lower portions separatedby a flange H made integral with it. The pillar H is prevented fromrotating by means of a circular nut J, which is screwed on its lower endand is situated in a recess J in the base C The flange H prevents axialmovement of the pillar.

Lying snugly in an annular space be tween the pillar H on the one handand the ring E and blade F on the other hand is a spiral spring L, oneend of which is made fast to the flange H and the other to the ring E.Axial movement of the switcharm is prevented by a screw M screwed intothe top of the pillar H. The head of this screw is turned down at N toprovide a bearing for the ring E. It will be seen that the point aboutwhich the tumbler A can rock is situated in the axis of rotation of theswitch-arm.

The operation of the described tumbler switch is as follows When thetumbler A is moved from the off position shown in Fig. 3 to the onposition shown in Fig. 2, the leading edge of the portion D of the arm Dco-acts with the inclined face E of the ring E and rotates the switcharm about the pillar H in a counter-clockwise direction, until thecontact-pieces F are brought into engagement with the switchcontact-pieces G. The spring L is loaded at the same time.

As this-movement proceeds the end of the portion D of the arm D slidesup the inclined face E as shown in Fig. 4:, and finally takes into thegroove E in this face as shown in Fig. 1. The switch-arm is then lockedin its on position.

If the tumbleris now rocked back to the off position, the end of theportion D will be disen aged from the groove E and the spring I? willreturn the switch-arm into the position shown in Fig. 3. Should thistumbler switches are the long quick break obtainable, the increasedareaof contact between the fixed and moving contact-pieces,

and the more mechanical action effected by mounting the switch-arm on apillar in-,

stead of relying on a toggle movement as heretofore.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patentis 1. In a switch of the type described, the combination with a support,and a contactpiece mounted thereon, of a switch-arm hav-.

ing an inclined face rotatably mounted on the base and arranged to makeand break contact with said contact-piece, and a tumbler that is mountedto rock on said support in a plane transverse to the plane of rotationof the switch-arm and is provided with an actuating arm having a leadingedge arranged to coact with the said in clined face to rotate theswitch-arm into contact with said contact-piece.

2. In a switch of the type described, the combination with a base, and acontactpiece mounted thereon, of a switch-arm having a recessed inclinedface rotatably mounted on the base and arranged to make and breakcontact with said contact-piece, and a tumbler that is mounted to rockon said base in a plane transverse to the plane of rotation of theswitch-arm and is provided with an actuating arm arranged to coact withthe said inclined face and enter into the recess therein to rotate theswitcharm into, and to arrest the same in, contact with saidcontact-piece. p

3. In a switch of the type described, the combination with a support,and a contact piece mounted thereon and a switch arm having a lateralV-shaped recess rotatably mounted 'on the support and arranged to makeand break contact withsaid contact piece, of a tumbler that is mountedto rock on said support in :a plane transverse to the plane of rotationof the switch arm and is provided with a cranked armhaving aleading edgearranged to operatively engage directly with one side of said recess toro: tate the switch arm in one direction, and having an opposed edgearranged to opera tively engage directly with the other side of saidrecess to positively rotate the switch arm in the opposite direction,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HENRY JOSEPH DEAN-OSGOOD.

